The first section of the Main-Danube Canal between Bamberg and Nuremberg was completed unhindered in 1972. But then over the next 20 years there were heated controversies surrounding its completion. A small exhibition in the Bavarian State Archives in Munich commemorates this from February 20th to April 3rd. This was developed by the Department of Archives and Libraries at the Bavarian University of Public Service.
At that time, disputes broke out particularly over the expansion of the canal in the Altmühltal. The significant interventions in the natural area were viewed extremely critically by nature conservation associations, ecologically oriented parties and parts of the population. In 1982 it was even considered stopping work.
The show highlights the role of politics as well as opponents and supporters of the project. In addition, she takes a look at the media as an important factor in the dispute. The ARD satirical show “Scheibenwischer” took up the conflict on January 14, 1982. Dieter Hildebrandt played a naive editor who questions the meaning of the waterway and is supposed to be bribed by the PR boss of Rhein-Main-Donau AG (played by Gerhard Polt). The secretary of RMD AG (Gisela Schneeberger) is meanwhile busy distributing the diet checks to the supervisory board, including the former Prime Minister Alfons Goppel (CSU). The protest letter from then Prime Minister Franz Josef Strauss to the broadcaster followed immediately. The episode was awarded silver at the Adolf Grimme Prize a year later.